How life has changed in Folkestone and Hythe

Folkestone and Hythe's population increased by about 11,700 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population passed 100,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Folkestone and Hythe increased by 12.2%, from just over 96,200 to 108,000.

The addition of just under 12,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Folkestone and Hythe was home to, on average, 2.2 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Folkestone and Hythe

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Folkestone and Hythe increased by two years, from 41 to 43 years.

This area had a higher average age than the South East and remained somewhat older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 4,400 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 2,000.

About 13.0% of people in Folkestone and Hythe are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Folkestone and Hythe by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in considerably limiting disability

The percentage of Folkestone and Hythe residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.2% to 4.5% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.2%, while the percentage of Folkestone and Hythe residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 89.6% to 88.6%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased faster here than in any other local authority district across the South East. As a result, this area had the region’s third highest proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability in Folkestone and Hythe increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Folkestone and Hythe, the South East and England that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities, March 2001 and March 2011

More people living alone

Folkestone and Hythe saw the South East's largest rise in the proportion of one-person households.

In 2011, just over one in three (33.3%) households in Folkestone and Hythe had only one person, compared with 30.7% in 2001. The percentage of households comprising an unmarried couple increased from 8.4% to 10.0%.

Across the region, Vale of White Horse saw the next largest increase in the proportion of one-person households (from 24.2% in 2001 to 26.4% in 2011).

During this period, Folkestone and Hythe overtook six local authority areas, including Oxford and Arun, to become the South East local authority area with the eighth-highest percentage of one-person households.

The percentage of households with only one person was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households that comprised only one person across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

Folkestone and Hythe saw the South East's second-largest rise in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner.

In 2011, just under one in seven (14.0%) people aged 16 and over in Folkestone and Hythe said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner, compared with 11.9% in 2001. The percentage that said they were married decreased from 52.6% to 47.1%.

Across the region, only Rother saw a greater rise in the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner (from 10.4% to 12.9%).

During this period, Folkestone and Hythe overtook Milton Keynes, Brighton and Hove and Portsmouth to become the South East local authority area with the seventh-highest percentage of people who had divorced or separated.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was higher than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

Folkestone and Hythe saw the South East's second-largest rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (2.9%) in Folkestone and Hythe reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.2% in 2001. The percentage that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.0% to 1.5%.

Across the region, only Rother saw a greater rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care (from 2.2% to 3.0%).

Every local authority area across the South East saw a rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care, as the regional average grew from 1.7% to 2.0%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Folkestone and Hythe remained close to 2.9%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Folkestone and Hythe by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Folkestone and Hythe

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Folkestone and Hythe was among those who said they had no religion, rising 12.8 points.

In 2011, 28.6% of respondents in Folkestone and Hythe gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 15.9% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion and described themselves as having no religion increased from 17.9% to 30.1%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Folkestone and Hythe, 67.4% said they were Christian, compared with 81.9% in 2001. About 1.6% said they were Hindu, compared with 1.1% a decade prior.

In Folkestone and Hythe, 7.6% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.9% in 2001. Across the South East, 7.4% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or of moving to or from an area for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population that said they had no religion in Folkestone and Hythe increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South East and Folkestone and Hythe by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Folkestone and Hythe that rented privately increased from 13.2% to 22.2% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over one in nine (11.2%) households lived in social housing, compared with 12.2% in 2001. The percentage of Folkestone and Hythe households that owned their home decreased from 72.4% to 64.8%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased faster here than the figure for the whole of the South East (from 10.2% in 2001 to 16.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in Folkestone and Hythe increased by 9 percentage points

Percentage of households in Folkestone and Hythe, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Folkestone and Hythe residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.4% to 6.4% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (78.3%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 66.1% in 2001. The percentage of Folkestone and Hythe residents that described their health as fair decreased from 24.6% to 15.3%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Folkestone and Hythe decreased by 3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Folkestone and Hythe, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Folkestone and Hythe

In 2011, 3.4% of Folkestone and Hythe residents said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from 1.6% in 2001. The 1.8 percentage point change was the largest increase among ethnic groups in this area.

Across the South East, the percentage of people from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from 2.6% to 5.0%, while across England the percentage went from 5.2% to 8.0%.

Around 94.7% of people in Folkestone and Hythe said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, compared with 97.3% in 2001. About 1.2% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.7% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.2% to 0.4%.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or of moving to or from an area for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups in Folkestone and Hythe increased by 1.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Folkestone and Hythe by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

More homes without children

The percentage of households without children increased in Folkestone and Hythe, while falling in Ashford (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Folkestone and Hythe).

In Folkestone and Hythe, the proportion went up from 63.9% in 2001 to 65.5% in 2011, while across England it fell from 59.9% to 58.4%. During the same period, the regional proportion remained close to 61.7%.

The proportion of households with children in Folkestone and Hythe fell from 27.8% to 26.0%, while the proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents increased from 8.3% to 8.5%.

The proportion of households without children was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Folkestone and Hythe residents that were unemployed increased from 3.4% to 4.6% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under one in two (49.5%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 51.0% in 2001. The percentage of Folkestone and Hythe residents that were self-employed increased from 9.1% to 10.3%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Folkestone and Hythe increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Folkestone and Hythe, the South East and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Folkestone and Hythe working less than 16 hours increased from 2.0% to 3.2% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in nine (11.3%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 14.4% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.1% in 2001 to 3.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Folkestone and Hythe increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Folkestone and Hythe, the South East and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

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